Any one built their own ac?

Simmer , If your any good at DIY and are just looking for something for pottering around in on nice days you could do worse than look at the Evansair website , I’m building a VP-1 at present , all the materials are relatively easy to find , you can buy all the materials as and when time and money allow and you can do it all in a double garage , VW 1824cc power means that engine parts are easy to find . The plans and builders handbook are available for an $55 International Money Order from Bud Evans and the Yahoo VP-1 Builders Group is very useful too.

Forget about building your own ultralight. It takes quite a bit of engineering expertise to know how to make a aluminum tubing airframe that will stay under the 200 lb margin. Most kit planes nowadays are composites, lancair a popular example http://www.lancair.com/ . These kits are still relatively expensive and cant take up to a year of your free time. So its not a quick term solution to a desire to fly.

Simmer,

There’re a few questions you should ask before you set out on such a project – not least WHY you want to do it and WHAT you want to do it for. That will influence the choice of aircraft. For instance, if you want to tour long distances (if anywhere is ‘long’ in the UK) you may not want to build an open cockpit three-axis microlight with a 60kt cruise. However, if it’s fun flying that you’re looking for, and don’t mind being on your own there’s lots of single seaters that can be built cheeply – if not particularly quickly.

Heck, you can even build yourself a Pitts Special from plans if you feel so inclined. I’m sure if you post your proposed plans on here someone will be able to point yuou in the direction of your ‘ideal’ airplane.

Of course, you could always think about an Avid Flyer!!

Cheers

Aviddriver

Hi Simmer

I partly built a VP2 but sold it when I had the opportunity to get another a/c for restoration.

If you build you will need to join the Popular Flying Association (PFA) as their inspectors and engineering section will oversee the build and issue the Permit to Fly on behalf of the CAA, only at a fraction of the cost.

You should be able to get all the info you need through the PFA website and Bulletin Board: http//www.pfa.org.uk

Originally posted by Simmer
Not just a thread starter.

I am looking into building an ac, I think it would be very rewarding to construct one myself, with the help of a few friends, who are also interested.

Hey Simmer,

That’s a complete no-brainer from where I stand

http://www.supermarineaircraft.com

Moggy 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂 🙂

Not just a thread starter.

I am looking into building an ac, I think it would be very rewarding to construct one myself, with the help of a few friends, who are also interested.

I understand that the process will be challenging and not necessarily cheaper than purchasing an off the shelf ac, but thats not the point.

I have always had a keen interest in learning to fly and it looks like I will have th oportunity to this year or the next. So I was keen on perhaps researching available kits to start to build in the next year or so once I have passed all exams etc (If I do that is :))

Just interested if anyone else has taken the plunge and built their own ac. I’m not looking at a a large bird, certainly not a tonne! Perhaps something falling into the ULA category.

Hi Mixtec

You wrote:

It really depends on what you classify as an “aircraft”. :confused:

An aircraft is an aircraft weather it has a 2-stroke, flat-4, flat-6 or whatever. Apart from power and size what is the difference, they all fly. I have a fabric covered a/c with a Continetal C85 up front and that is my preference but it does not bother me that I have friends with Flexwings or a/c with a big radial up front, they have aircraft and they fly. We all have a similar interest.

It really depends on what you classify as an “aircraft”. Almost anyone could build something that would get off the ground with a 2-stroke engine and cheap materials like plywood or fiberglass. But if your talking about something that will handle a lycoming flat six, right off the bat your talking an airframe that will weigh at least a ton. This kind of weight requires extensive engineering knowledge whether your using stressed skin metal or composites. You could get away with using welded steel tubing on the rear fuselage, not on the wings. If you seriously want to design your own plane, go to russia and high an engineer there to design you something.

Simmer, hi.

Are you thinking of building or is this just a thread starter?

Building an aircraft can be as difficult as you make it and, depending on your skills, it could be easy. The ability to learn new skills is essential unless you are willing to pay others to do the dirty work, the ability to think sideways may also be a help. I do not know anyone who has not had to learn some new skill.

Obviously some a/c are easier to build than others so what type would you want and how much workspace is available and of what type? As an example it would be no good trying to build a plastic, sorry composite, a/c in a draughty outhouse or barn, your inspector would have kittens. You would not get me working in composites because of the health and safety aspects, but that is purely a personal choice.

Some of the 3-axis microlites come in a kit form that goes together relatively easily without any special skills and even the covering is ready made to be laced on. These could not be easier.

All metal, relatively easy but a lot of work and will require some special tools for riveting and bending. All those holes to be drilled, deburred aligned etc. are very satisfying once done but a pain at the time. All parts will need some form of protection applied before/during assembly – do you have a spray facility while building?

Steel tube and fabric will require a licensed welder. I know a chap who did an approved welding course and obtained his licence so he could do all his own welding.

Wood and fabric, clean but dusty and not generally critical on climate and only then while gluing but any type of spraying will require the right temperature and humidity.

These are just a few personal thoughts on home-building/restoration to get the thing going but I am sure others will add to them and disagree. Building or restoration can be slow, satisfying, frustrating, exciting, boring at times, but the end result will always be well worth it.
😀